First Time Coach looking for a little help

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Sep 2, 2016
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Hello Everyone,
I am coaching my daughters softball team 10U and well its my first time coaching. Basically all im looking for is how to run an efficient practice. most of the girls are new to the sport, with the exception of a 2 or 3.
Right now this is how i have things set up, for a 2 hour practice
- Warm up run
- Warm up arms throwing
- Soft Grounders
- Pop Ups
- Situational feilding
- Batting
- Laps
I just want to see if there is anything im missing or if i should add/remove anything.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
Do you have any AC's to help you out. At that age you need to make use of your time so stations are huge if you have enough help

Even if you break out half for popups and ground balls it helps. Have half do situation while the other half hits,etc.

Even better if you have someone that can break out a player or 2 and work on certain skills for new players. If you can
talk the parents into playing catch with the kids on off days it will help you get better quickly.
 
Sep 2, 2016
3
0
I have two AC's helping me out, they split the team up and grounders/pop ups. I was working with the girls that have never played before and working on throwing/catching.
[MENTION=2664]quincy[/MENTION] we just had our first practice yesterday and wanted to gage where our team was, (also none of us have pitched before so i have been watching instructional videos on youtube) and was going to start at our next practice on Tuesday.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Skip the "laps" and make it "base running" (which should include basic sliding skills). Running laps doesn't teach the kids anything about softball skills. A little running for a warm-up is fine, but running for conditioning is typically a waste of time in the typical short practice time allotted for rec league teams.

Pitching and catching will be the single biggest difference-makers on your team. Do not neglect either one. A pitcher that keeps the ball in and around the strike zone is critical. A catcher that catches the ball well and limits passed balls is equally critical. Extra work for both of these positions is common practice.

Warning: Not all instructional videos on YouTube are helpful. Many teach things that are flat-out wrong - especially with hitting and pitching.

EDIT: Also important...HAVE FUN!! That's what keeps kids wanting to play the game. If they get better AND have fun, you're doing your job.
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
Instead of just doing throwing during warm-ups I suggest you spend some quality time teaching the girls how to throw properly. The generally quoted figure is 80% of all errors are throwing errors. Eliminate those and you eliminate a lot of problems later.

Work on basic ground ball fielding technique from a short distance before you get into fielding batted ground balls. They're often referred to as dailies. Here's a link with more explanation. https://fastpitchlane.softballsucce...-softball-improvement-comes-little-by-little/ We found these to be highly valuable, especially at 18U.

One other thing to remember when you do hit ground balls to the girls. Don't make the mistake of thinking if you hit them super hard in practice that it will make them better in games. The reverse will happen. They'll learn to sit back so they don't get killed, and when your opponents hit like 10 year old girls instead of full grown adults they'll sit back and wait rather than charging the ball as they should.

Good luck!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Instead of just doing throwing during warm-ups I suggest you spend some quality time teaching the girls how to throw properly. The generally quoted figure is 80% of all errors are throwing errors. Eliminate those and you eliminate a lot of problems later.

Absolutely!

A few drills for understanding and teaching proper throwing mechanics...
https://youtu.be/xEvlz5WI4Q4?list=PLLo_t691U8DU0KOJlBAd6fFj0a2tbPEk3
https://youtu.be/Un8inw4Ry_Q?list=PLLo_t691U8DU0KOJlBAd6fFj0a2tbPEk3
https://youtu.be/m71hUmU42mA?list=PLLo_t691U8DU0KOJlBAd6fFj0a2tbPEk3

Austin Wasserman's information/instruction on throwing is the best out there...High Level Throwing -

Work on basic ground ball fielding technique from a short distance before you get into fielding batted ground balls. They're often referred to as dailies. Here's a link with more explanation. https://fastpitchlane.softballsucce...-softball-improvement-comes-little-by-little/ We found these to be highly valuable, especially at 18U.

One other thing to remember when you do hit ground balls to the girls. Don't make the mistake of thinking if you hit them super hard in practice that it will make them better in games. The reverse will happen. They'll learn to sit back so they don't get killed, and when your opponents hit like 10 year old girls instead of full grown adults they'll sit back and wait rather than charging the ball as they should.

Good luck!

This ^^^^ too!

Focus on proper technique over speed. Speed will come with efficient, properly-executed mechanics, and confidence in their glove skills.
 
Sep 2, 2016
3
0
Thanks to everyone for all the help! the few practices we have had have been awesome! thank you again for the tips and drills!
 

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